This was an idea I had for a while. After watching and Volume 3 and reading other fanfics, Ozpin x Salem has quickly become one of my OTPs (after Jaune x Ruby). This story came about from a Theory I had on the nature of Ozpin, Salem, and their relationship… and I will explain my theory at the end of the story.

Disclaimer: RWBY and its characters are the property of Rooster Teeth.

Light and Darkness

She stood at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the barren rocky landscape that was her home. He searing red eyes gazed out at the vast empty expanses of her realm. The light of Remnant's fractured moon was reflected off the massive, sharp, protruding crystalline structures that littered her kingdom and mixed into the rock formations, casting her realm in an eerie, off-putting purple light. And to her, it was absolutely beautiful.

She was keeping her eye on things in the rest of the world, for she was all-seeing. No one knew how, but she could easily see all the events of the world occur, from the largest storm to the smallest ripple. She watched as events unfolded; as one story closed only to begin another.

He was behind her. She could tell that much, even though he was the only thing she couldn't see in all her omniscience. As he fought her pawn, her so-called champion, he disappeared from her vision. She couldn't help but chuckle darkly; of course he'd come directly to her, she had no reason to believe he'd do anything else. Even though they were enemies, destined to wage their war until the end of time, he was still welcome in her realm.

She made no move to attack him, and he made no strike against her. They both knew better. Too long now had they fought against each other; too long had they waged their endless war. No matter what the other tried, they were equals. Any direct battle between them would always end in a stalemate. It was why they started turning to others to fight for them, selecting champions to fight in their stead.

As she stared out into her desolate kingdom, her eyes saw the beginning of a new story taking place far away. His latest champion was setting off on her next journey. Her deathly pale lips curled upright into a smirk in realizing who he'd selected.

"A smaller, more honest soul." She finally spoke. "It's true that a simple spark can ignite hope breathe fire into the hearts of the weary. The ability to derive strength from hope is undoubtedly mankind's greatest attribute." She paused as she processed her words. Even though she hated to admit it, it's something she'd seen happen for centuries, they both have, and it only made her goal clearer.

"Which is why I will focus all of my power to snuff if out."

Through the ages their timeless war had been fought. She pulled out all the stops, and yet he was still the one who came out on top. For the longest time however, even their champions had been pushed into a stalemate. No longer. She had finally figured it out, what made him so powerful, why he always won. She'd learned his greatest weakness; he'd continue to cling to his old morals and ideals. Meanwhile, she'd learned and evolved, adapting new strategies.

"How does it feel?" She asked him. "Knowing that all your time and effort has been for nothing? That your guardians have failed you? That everything you've built will be torn down before your very eyes?"

When he didn't respond, she continued, wanting to break through the calm demeanor of his, wanting a rise out of him. "Your faith in mankind is not displaced." She admitted. "When banded together, unified by a common enemy, they are a noticeable threat." She paused again, letting the severity of her statement sink in before she revealed what she'd learned from their endless conflict. "But divide them, place doubt in their minds, and any semblance of power they once had will wash away."

He refused to move. His stature remained tall and proud. She'd tried this before, the taunts, but he wouldn't let her get to him, just like he refused to be broken so many times before.

"Of course they won't realize it at first." She told him. As she spoke, her omniscient eyes watched the once unified people scatter across Remnant and resign themselves to less happy fates. She smirked as she witnessed first-hand what she was speaking of. "Like you, they'll cling to their fleeting hope, their aspirations. But this is merely the first move." She revealed to him cryptically.

"So send your guardians. Your hunstmen and huntresses. And when you fail and you turn to your smaller soul, know that you send her to the same pitiful demise!"

The only sign that his calm composure dropped were that his eyes widened and his fists clenched. To a casual listener it would sound like she was comparing his champion to his children—the hunters and huntresses, but he knew her. He knew what she was talking about; his previous champion. It was another in his long list of many mistakes.

"This is the beginning of the end Ozpin." She voiced what they both knew deep down in their hearts; that after so many endless ages on conflict and bloodshed, their war would finally come to a close.

Salem turned her head towards him, seeing him for the first time in centuries. "And I can't wait to watch you burn." Her blood red eyes glowed dangerously.

Despite the heavy losses he'd recently suffered, Ozpin didn't break his cool, especially not against her. "Do you really think it's that easy Salem?" He asked her. "Yes, they are divided, but they will reunite."

She chuckled, her ghostly pale face held a sadistic mirthful expression as she turned her whole body to face him. "The damage is done." She pointed out. "The kingdoms are divided and with your little tower out of commission, they can't communicate." She paused. "You think you know them so well, but we'll see."

"It's going to be beautiful." She continued. "The despair of the world is deepening, and soon darkness will reign supreme once again."

"You forget, in the darkest of shadows, light is born." Ozpin pointed out. "And you can change your strategy and tactics all you want Salem, but you will always lose because you fail to realize this one simple truth."

Simply put, Salem was much more passionate than Ozpin, and his little quip about her always losing did not help much. Her eyes glowed with murderous intent as she raised one of her ghost white hands. Copious amounts of thick, black fog formed in her palm. It amassed and grew as she shot it from her palm. The black smoke formed a vicious twister as it overtook the calm collected man in front of her. Salem lowered her hand as the shadowy smog continued to swirl around her age-old enemy.

Suddenly, a flash of light twinkled from within the dark depths of her attack. It expanded outward, growing into a sphere of light which pushed back the fog which eventually dissipated. The bubble of light faded away, revealing Ozpin, holding his hand out in front of Salem.

Thus, they once again revealed their true natures to each other, and the very core of their endless struggle; for he was the embodiment of light, and she was darkness incarnate. Since the dawn of time, light and darkness have co-existed. Two sides of the same time. But it was not always a battle. At one time, Light and Darkness peacefully co-existed. They knew their duties and performed them. That all changed one day many centuries ago. Something happened that forever changed Salem, and she was pulled in, corrupted by the darkness she embodied, becoming the wicked thing she is now.

"Spare me your philosophical dribble." She spat. "I've won this time." She declared. "And I'm going to continued to win." Slowly, she advanced towards Ozpin. In her long black cloak and gown, it looked like she was hovering. "I'm going to FINALLY make you pay for what you did."

Ozpin's expression dropped further into a frown. She was still holding onto that. Not that he blamed her, he held onto it as well.

"Salem…" his voice was no longer bold or defiant, instead it was soft and solemn. "What happened was not my fault."

"Don't give me that!" She snarled. "Not again! It's because of you that Twilight isn't here now!"

Twilight was a young woman who was very close to both Ozpin and Salem in the past. Of course, Twilight wasn't her true name. Salem and Ozpin agreed to never utter it, for the memories her name invoked were far too painful. Instead, they used her namesake, Twilight. Twilight was that special time of day after the day ended and before the night began. And, much like her namesake, Twilight was the bridge that connected light and darkness…in more ways than one.

"Salem, do you really doubt me?" He asked. His voice began to rise at the accusation. "I loved Twlight just as much as you did."

"Then why didn't you save her?" Her voice was full of hurt, yet her face held nothing but anger and hate.

"Do you think I didn't try!?" He finally broke his composure and shouted back at her.

"You didn't try hard enough!" Was the pale woman's response. "She was OUR DAUGHTER Ozpin!"

Ozpin watched as the embodiment of darkness clutched the front of his coat. She collapsed onto her knees, breaking down. They'd been enemies for centuries. And yet, in this moment, Ozpin saw a glimmer of who she was once was. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around the broken woman he used to know… used to love.

"Not a day goes by that I don't miss her." He whispered to her. "When I found her, I did all that I could." He tried to explain for the umpteenth time. "Even the master healers said nothing could be done." Behind his shaded spectacles, a tear fell from his eye. "I didn't want to lose her any more than you. Salem…" he looked down at her, "why can't you see that?"

From her kneeling position, Salem looked up at her former lover. Black tears ran down her face. "Because my heart is dead." She whispered. "It froze and died with her." She wrenched herself out of his grasp, standing back up. She ignored the black tear stains on her face. "I don't care what you did to try and save her. Because you failed, I can never forgive you." Anger and hatred took over Salem's face once again.

"And I want you to suffer…like I suffered. You may have tried to help Twilight, but you couldn't save her." She said. "It may have been beyond your abilities, yet I can never forgive you for your failure." She turned away. "This mankind you care so deeply for… I will do what I can to destroy it." She announced.

She turned back to him one more time, walking back up to him. "And despite everything," she placed her hand on his cheek, "I still love you." She declared.

Ozpin said nothing, he merely looked down at her. After moments of this silence, Salem scoffed and walked past him, walking back down the stairs into her kingdom of the night. Once alone, Ozpin sighed. He walked to the edge of the cliff and looked over the desolate wasteland.

There was no doubt in his mind, the Salem he once knew and loved couldn't be saved. She said she still loved him, but the woman he loved was no longer in there. In a way, he guessed he'd always known that…ever since Twilight died.

Or so he claimed. At the time of her death, Ozpin tested his powers in a way he never thought possible. The embodiment of light transferred his daughter's soul and spirit into a new vessel…a blank slate…and unborn child. In this way, maybe their daughter could be reincarnated and live on. At the time, he didn't tell Salem because such a gambit was still experimental. But by the time he learned it was indeed a success, it was too late. Before Ozpin could tell her, Salem had allowed herself to become corrupted by the darkness.

Ozpin closed his eyes, remembering his love, the Salem that originally existed. The darkness to HIS light. Of all the things he remembered about her, one thing stood out above all else to Ozpin. A trait that Salem had before she succumbed to darkness and took on her new form. It was a trait she had passed to their daughter, and after Ozpin transferred her essence, it was a trait shared with every reincarnation.

He could still see Salem's smiling face, looking up at him lovingly with her beautiful, silver eyes.

So allow me to clarify some things here. The thing about Salem being corrupted by darkness, them being former lovers and having a daughter… that was all purely written for this story. It's purely meant to be drama/tragedy.

That theory I talked about earlier. It was that I believe Ozpin and Salem are light and darkness.

By the way, I LOVE REVIEWS! Especially for one shots like this. Every bit of feedback helps me improve and I love hearing what you guys have to say.